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Free radical reactions of curcumin in membrane models.

Free radical reactions of curumin, a lipid soluble antioxidant from turmeric (Curcuma longa), have been studied with a variety of oxidants using TX 100 micelle as a model membrane. The phenoxyl radicals of curcumin generated by one electron oxidizing azide radicals in acetonitrile-water mixture and TX 100 micelles show very similar spectral behavior. However, in membrane models the radical lifetimes and the molar extinction coefficients are significantly different from the homogeneous solutions. Micellized curcumin reacts with haloperoxyl radicals, superoxide, and lipid peroxyl radicals with rate constants of 5 X 10(3), 4.6 X 10(4), and 5.3 X 10(5) M-1s-1, respectively. Curcumin derived phenoxyl radicals decay by radical-radical reactions in homogeneous solutions, while in the micelles, radical decay is mostly first order when the average occupancy of the micelle is less than 1. Implications of these results in evaluating curcumin as an antioxidant is discussed.

Azides↗

Determination of acidity constants of curcumin in aqueous solution and apparent rate constant of its decomposition.

The stability of curcumin (H3Cur) in aqueous media is improved when the systems in which it is present are at high pH values (higher than 11.7), fitting a model describable by a pseudo-zero order with a rate constant k' for the disappearance of the Cur3- species of 1.39 (10(-9)) Mmin(-1). There were three acidity constants measured for the curcumin as follows: pKA3 = 10.51 +/- 0.01 corresponding to the equilibrium HCur2- = Cur3- + H+, a pKA2 = 9.88 +/- 0.02 corresponding to the equilibrium H2Cur- = HCur-(2) + H+. These pKA values were attributed to the hydrogen of the phenol part of the curcumin, while the pKA1 = 8.38 +/- 0.04 corresponds to the equilibrium H3Cur = H2Cur- + H+ and is attributed the acetylacetone type group. Formation of quinoid structures play an important role in the tautomeric forms of the curcumin in aqueous media, which makes the experimental values differ from the theoretically calculated ones, depending on the conditions adopted in the study.

Absorption↗

Effects of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and curcumin on copper-induced oxidation of human serum lipids.

The oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to be the initiating factor for the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The active ingredients of spices such as chili and turmeric (capsaicin and curcumin, respectively) have been shown to reduce the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation. One of the techniques used to study the oxidation of LDL is to isolate LDL and subject it to metal-induced (copper or iron) oxidation. However, whole serum may represent a closer situation to in vivo conditions than using isolated LDL. We investigated the effects of different concentrations (0.1-3 microM) of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and curcumin on copper-induced oxidation of serum lipoproteins. The lag time (before initiation of oxidation) and rate of oxidation (slope of propagation phase) were calculated. The lag time increased, and the rate of oxidation decreased with increasing concentrations of the tested antioxidants (p < 0.05). A 50% increase in lag time (from control) was observed at concentrations between 0.5 and 0.7 microM for capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and curcumin. This study shows that oxidation of serum lipids is reduced by capsaicinoids and curcumin in a concentration-dependent manner.

Capsaicin↗

Curcumin attenuation of acute adriamycin myocardial toxicity in rats.

The protective effect of curcumin on acute adriamycin (ADR) myocardial toxicity was analysed in rats. ADR toxicity, induced by a single intraperitoneal injection (30 mg kg(-1)), was revealed by elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The level of the lipid peroxidation products, conjugated dienes and malondialdehyde, was markedly elevated by ADR. ADR caused a decrease in myocardial glutathione content and glutathione peroxidase activity. In contrast, cardiac catalase activity was increased in ADR rats. Curcumin treatment (200 mg kg(-1), seven days before and two days following ADR) significantly ameliorated the early manifestation of cardiotoxicity (ST segment elevation and an increase in heart rate) and prevented the rise in serum CK and LDH exerted by ADR. ADR rats that received curcumin displayed a significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation and augmentation of endogenous antioxidants. These results suggest that curcumin inhibits ADR cardiotoxicity and might serve as novel combination chemotherapeutic agent with ADR to limit free radical-mediated organ injury.

Animals↗

Protective effects of curcumin against amiodarone-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.

(1) We have studied whether curcumin prevents amiodarone-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Intratracheal instillation of amiodarone (6.25 mg kg(-1) on days 0 and 2, and then killed on day 3, day 5, week 1, week 3 and week 5 after amiodarone administration) induced increases in total protein and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity on days 3 and 5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Total cell counts, alveolar macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils recovered by BAL, and lung myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were significantly higher in amiodarone rats. (2) Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation and superoxide anion generation after phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) stimulation were higher in the alveolar macrophages of amiodarone rats at 3 and 5 weeks postamiodarone instillation than in controls. Amiodarone also induced increases in transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression, collagen deposition, type I collagen expression and c-Jun protein in lungs. (3) Curcumin (200 mg kg(-1) body weight after first amiodarone instillation and daily thereafter for 5 weeks)-treated amiodarone rats had reduced levels of protein, LDH activity, total cell numbers and differential cell counts in BALF. LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha release and PMA-stimulated superoxide generation were significantly suppressed by curcumin. Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the increases in lung MPO activity, TGF-beta1 expression, lung hydroxyproline content, expression of type I collagen and c-Jun protein in amiodarone rats. Our results have important implications for the treatment of amiodarone-induced lung fibrosis.

Amiodarone↗

Inhibition of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 activity and induction of p53 degradation by the natural phenolic compound curcumin.

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) regulates the stability of the tumor suppressor WT p53. NQO1 binds and stabilizes WT p53, whereas NQO1 inhibitors including dicoumarol and various other coumarins and flavones induce ubiquitin-independent proteasomal p53 degradation and thus inhibit p53-induced apoptosis. Here, we show that curcumin, a natural phenolic compound found in the spice turmeric, induced ubiquitin-independent degradation of WT p53 and inhibited p53-induced apoptosis in normal thymocytes and myeloid leukemic cells. Like dicoumarol, curcumin inhibited the activity of recombinant NQO1 in vitro, inhibited the activity of endogenous cellular NQO1 in vivo, and dissociated NQO1-WT p53 complexes. Neither dicoumarol nor curcumin dissociated the complexes of NQO1 and the human cancer hot-spot p53 R273H mutant and therefore did not induce degradation of this mutant. NQO1 knockdown by small-interfering RNA induced degradation of both WT p53 and the p53 R273H mutant. The results indicate that curcumin induces p53 degradation and inhibits p53-induced apoptosis by an NQO1-dependent pathway.

Animals↗

The slippage of the Ca2+ pump and its control by anions and curcumin in skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Ca(2+) transport by sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) ATPase occurs with an optimal coupling ratio of 2 Ca(2+) per ATP in pre-steady state. However, slippage of the pump and lower coupling ratios are observed in steady state. Slippage depends on the presence of high Ca(2+) in the lumen of SR vesicles and high nucleotide in the medium. Thereby, Ca(2+) and/or nucleotide-bound phosphoenzyme intermediates accumulate and undergo uncoupled cleavage, before vectorial translocation of bound Ca(2+) in the forward direction of the cycle or before productive reversal to ATP synthesis. Transport efficiency and coupling ratios are improved by reduction of nucleotide concentration in the presence of ATP regenerating systems and/or complexation of luminal Ca(2+) with phosphate or oxalate. Curcumin (1-5 microm) lowers the concentration of phosphate or oxalate required to reduce slippage of the Ca(2+) pump. Thereby, under appropriate conditions, curcumin favors kinetic flow, completion of productive cycles, and improvement of coupling ratios. The findings obtained with isolated SR vesicles suggest that slippage is an important phenomenon under prevailing conditions of muscle fibers in situ. Ca(2+) transport and its slippage can be improved by curcumin in cardiac as well as in skeletal SR, raising the possibility of pharmacological interventions to correct defective Ca(2+) homeostasis. Higher curcumin concentrations (5-30 microm), however, inhibit overall ATPase activity and Ca(2+) transport by interfering with phosphoenzyme formation with ATP or P(i).

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Alternative activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases in curcumin and arsenite-induced HSP70 gene expression in human colorectal carcinoma cells.

We have investigated the regulation mechanism of chemical stress-induced HSP70 gene expression in human colorectal carcinoma cells (COLO205 and HT29). Our data show that chemical treatments including sodium arsenite and curcumin, induced significant synthesis of HSP70 and its mRNA. The induced HSP70 gene expression appears to be increased at the transcriptional level. The increase in HSP70 gene expression by both chemicals is associated with an increase in HSF binding to HSE and induction of HSF1 di- or trimerization. Phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated proteins (ERK1/2) were detected in sodium arsenite-treated COLO205 and HT29 cells, and the free radical scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was able to inhibit this ERK1/2 activation and HSP70 gene expression. MAPK blockade by the specific MEK1 inhibitor (PD98059) decreased the ability of sodium arsenite to increase HSP70 gene expression in a dose-dependent manner along with dephosphorylation of ERK1/2 proteins. In contrast to arsenite treatment, activation of ERK1/2 was not detected in curcumin-treated colorectal carcinoma cells, and NAC and PD98059 did not show any inhibitory effect on HSP70 gene expression induced by curcumin. Overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1-DN) prevents arsenite-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and HSP70 protein synthesis. These results indicated that the ERK signaling pathway can participate in HSP70 gene expression induced by the prooxidant sodium arsenite, but not by the antioxidant curcumin.

Acetylcysteine↗

Curcumin as a DNA topoisomerase II poison.

Curcumin, the major active component of the spice turmeric, is recognised as a safe compound with great potential for cancer chemoprevention and cancer therapy. It induces apoptosis, but its initiation mechanism remains poorly understood. Curcumin has been assessed on the human cancer cell lines, TK-10, MCF-7 and UACC-62, and their IC50 values were 12.16, 3.63, 4.28 microM respectively. The possibility of this compound being a topoisomerase II poison has also been studied and it was found that 50 microM of curcumin is active in a similar fashion to the antineoplastic agent etoposide. These results point to DNA damage induced by topoisomerase II poisoning as a possible mechanism by which curcumin initiates apoptosis, and increase the evidence suggesting its possible use in cancer therapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Modulation of inflammatory mediators by ibuprofen and curcumin treatment during chronic inflammation in rat.

Inflammation is a protective tissue response occurring in three distinct phases, acute, subacute and a chronic proliferative phase. We undertook the present study to understand the overall immune response of the body during adjuvant induced chronic inflammation in rat and the effect of ibuprofen and curcumin on this response. Inflammatory mediators were estimated on day 21 and day 35 after adjuvant injection. The level of C-reactive protein increased to 200% on day 21 and then reduced to 50% on day 35 compared to control. Curcumin and ibuprofen further reduced the increased levels at both the time intervals. Haptoglobin level decreased to 42% on day 21 but increased to 5 times of control on day 35. Curcumin and ibuprofen reduced the increased levels at day 35. No significant change was observed in Prostaglandin-E2 and Leukotriene-B4 levels and in Lymphocyte proliferation. The level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha increased by three folds on day 21, but came down to 88% on day 35. Ibuprofen treatment decreased the raised level on day 21 and increased the reduced level on day 35. Interleukin-1beta increased to 2 folds on day 21 and 10 folds on day 35 which were significantly brought down by curcumin and ibuprofen. Nitric oxide level was reduced at both the time intervals, which were increased by drug treatment.

Animals↗

Effect of photo-irradiated curcumin treatment against oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Increasing evidence in both experimental and clinical studies suggests that oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Although phenolic compounds attenuate oxidative stress-related damage, there are concerns over toxicity of synthetic phenolic antioxidants, and this has considerably stimulated interest in investigating the role of natural phenolics in medicinal application. In the present study, we examined the effect of photo-irradiated curcumin in experimental diabetes to evaluate the anti-hyperglycemic properties of this compound on streptozotocin (40 mg/kg of body weight)-induced diabetes. Photo-irradiated curcumin was given at a dose of 10 or 30 mg/kg of body weight. The level of blood glucose was elevated in diabetic animals. Circulatory lipid peroxidation, vitamin C, vitamin E, and enzymic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were analyzed. The antioxidant status decreased in diabetic animals. Oral administration of photo-irradiated curcumin for 45 days resulted in a significant decrease in the levels of blood glucose along with near-normalization of the enzymic activities and the levels of lipid peroxidative markers. The most effective results were obtained on treatment with 30 mg/kg of body weight of photo-irradiated curcumin.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effects of curcumin on tumor initiation by benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The effects of topical administration of curcumin on the formation of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-DNA adducts and the tumorigenic activities of B[a]P and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in epidermis were evaluated in female CD-1 mice. Topical application of 3 or 10 mumol curcumin 5 min prior to the application of 20 nmol [3H]B[a]P inhibited the formation of [3H]B[a]P-DNA adducts in epidermis by 39 or 61% respectively. In a two-stage skin tumorigenesis model, topical application of 20 nmol B[a]P to the backs of mice once weekly for 10 weeks followed a week later by promotion with 15 nmol 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) twice weekly for 21 weeks resulted in the formation of 7.1 skin tumors per mouse, and 100% of the mice had tumors. In a parallel group of mice, in which the animals were treated with 3 or 10 mumol curcumin 5 min prior to each application of B[a]P, the number of tumors per mouse was decreased by 58 or 62% respectively. The percentage of tumor-bearing mice was decreased by 18-25%. In an additional study, topical application of 3 or 10 mumol curcumin 5 min prior to each application of 2 nmol DMBA once weekly for 10 weeks followed a week later by promotion with 15 nmol TPA twice weekly for 15 weeks decreased the number of tumors per mouse by 37 or 41% respectively.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in NIH3T3 cells.

Treatment of NIH3T3 cells with the tumor promoter phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) results within 30 min in a 1.8-fold elevation of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, an enzyme capable of generating reactive oxygen species such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Simultaneous administration of 2 and 10 microM curcumin with 100 ng/ml PMA inhibits PMA-induced increases in XO activity measured 30 min later by 22.7% and 36.5%, respectively. The PMA-induced conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) to XO is reduced by curcumin to the basal level noted in untreated cells. Activity of XO is remarkably inhibited by curcumin in vitro, but not by its structurally related compounds caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid. Based on these findings, induction of XO activity is deemed to be one of the major causative elements in PMA-mediated tumor promotion, and the major inhibitory mechanism of curcumin on PMA-induced increases in XD/XO enzyme activities is through direct inactivation at the protein level.

3T3 Cells↗

Curcumin impairs tumor suppressor p53 function in colon cancer cells.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is being considered as a potential chemopreventive agent in humans. In vitro it inhibits transcription by NF-kappaB, and the activity of lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase enzymes, which facilitate tumor progression. In vivo it is protective in rodent models of chemical carcinogenesis. Curcumin contains an alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone, a reactive chemical substituent that is responsible for its repression of NF-kappaB. In compounds other than curcumin this same electrophilic moiety is associated with inactivation of the tumor suppressor, p53. Here we report that curcumin behaves analogously to these compounds. It disrupts the conformation of the p53 protein required for its serine phosphorylation, its binding to DNA, its transactivation of p53-responsive genes and p53-mediated cell cycle arrest.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Curcumin synergistically potentiates the growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of celecoxib in osteoarthritis synovial adherent cells.

OBJECTIVES: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the Western world's leading cause of disability. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors are efficient anti-inflammatory agents commonly used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. However, recent studies have shown that their long-term use may be limited due to cardiovascular toxicity. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of the phytochemical curcumin has been demonstrated in several in vitro and animal models. This study was undertaken to investigate whether curcumin augments the growth-inhibitory and pro-apoptotic effects of celecoxib in OA synovial adherent cells. METHODS: OA synovial adherent cells were prepared from human synovial tissue collected during total knee replacement surgery. The cells were exposed to different concentrations of celecoxib (0-40 mum), curcumin (0-20 mum) and their combination. Flow cytometric analysis was used to measure the percentage of cells with a subdiploid DNA content, the hallmark of apoptosis. COX-2 activity was assessed by measuring production of prostaglandin E(2) by enzyme-linked immunoassay. RESULTS: A synergistic effect was observed in inhibition of cell growth when the cells were exposed to various concentrations of celecoxib combined with curcumin. The inhibitory effect of the combination on cell growth was associated with an increased induction of apoptosis. The synergistic effect was mediated through a mechanism that involves inhibition of COX-2 activity. CONCLUSIONS: This effect may enable the use of celecoxib at lower and safer concentrations, and may pave the way for a novel combination treatment in osteoarthritis and other rheumatological disorders.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗

Resveratrol and curcumin suppress immune response through CD28/CTLA-4 and CD80 co-stimulatory pathway.

The role of resveratrol and curcumin is well documented in cancer, inflammation, diabetes and various other diseases. However, their immunosuppressive action on T cells, B cells and macrophages is not well documented. In the present study, we have ascertained the effect of resveratrol and curcumin on T and B cells and macrophages. The most striking findings were that both resveratrol and curcumin suppressed the activity of T and B cells and macrophages, as evidenced by significant inhibition in proliferation, antibody production and lymphokine secretion. Interestingly, curcumin imparted immunosuppression by mainly down-regulating the expression of CD28 and CD80 and up-regulating CTLA-4. Resveratrol also functioned by decreasing the expression of CD28 and CD80, as well as by augmenting the production of interleukin (IL)-10.

Animals↗

Structural relationship of curcumin derivatives binding to the BRCT domain of human DNA polymerase lambda.

We previously reported that phenolic compounds, petasiphenol and curcumin (diferuloylmethane), were a selective inhibitor of DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular structural relationship of curcumin and 13 chemically synthesized derivatives of curcumin. The inhibitory effect on pol lambda (full-length, i.e. intact pol lambda including the BRCA1 C- terminal [BRCT] domain) by some derivatives was stronger than that by curcumin, and monoacetylcurcumin (compound 13) was the strongest pol lambda inhibitor of all the compounds tested, achieving 50% inhibition at a concentration of 3.9 microm. The compound did not influence the activities of replicative pols such as alpha, delta, and epsilon. It had no effect on pol beta activity either, although the three-dimensional structure of pol beta is thought to be highly similar to that of pol lambda. Compound 13 did not inhibit the activity of the C-terminal catalytic domain of pol lambda including the pol beta-like core, in which the BRCT motif was deleted from its N-terminal region. MALDI-TOF MS analysis demonstrated that compound 13 bound selectively to the N-terminal domain of pol lambda, but did not bind to the C-terminal region. Based on these results, the pol lambda-inhibitory mechanism of compound 13 is discussed.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Curcumin, the active principle of turmeric (Curcuma longa), ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in rats.

Chronic hyperglycaemia in diabetes leads to the overproduction of free radicals and evidence is increasing that these contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy. Among the spices, turmeric (Curcuma longa) is used as a flavouring and colouring agent in the indian diet every day and is known to possess anti-oxidant properties. The present study was designed to examine the effect of curcumin, a yellow pigment of turmeric, on renal function and oxidative stress in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg) in rats. Four weeks after STZ injection, rats were divided into four groups, namely control rats, diabetic rats and diabetic rats treated with curcumin (15 and 30 mg/kg, p.o.) for 2 weeks. Renal function was assessed by creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and urea clearance and urine albumin excretion. Oxidative stress was measured by renal malonaldehyde, reduced glutathione and the anti-oxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. Streptozotocin-injected rats showed significant increases in blood glucose, polyuria and a decrease in bodyweight compared with age-matched control rats. After 6 weeks, diabetic rats also exhibited renal dysfunction, as evidenced by reduced creatinine and urea clearance and proteinuria, along with a marked increase in oxidative stress, as determined by lipid peroxidation and activities of key anti-oxidant enzymes. Chronic treatment with curcumin significantly attenuated both renal dysfunction and oxidative stress in diabetic rats. These results provide confirmatory evidence of oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy and point towards the possible anti-oxidative mechanism being responsible for the nephroprotective action of curcumin.

Animals↗